Monday and Tuesday will be hot and sunny across many parts of the country but a cool down is coming – for Waitangi Day.

Around half of the country will be colder than normal on Wednesday, mostly in the east of both islands up to about northern Hawke’s Bay. Beyond that it’s either normal or warmer than normal.

By the end of the week easterlies are becoming the main theme and all eyes are on the tropics where two significant areas of low pressure will be dropping south towards the North Island on Sunday and Monday – it’s not locked in but here’s the latest.